Title

Author

Date of Conferral

2018

Degree

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

School

Education

Advisor

William Shecket

Abstract

At a Texas community college, stakeholders wanted to strengthen the financial literacy module offered in the student development course for undergraduates. The problem was that no formative data existed on students' financial literacy, and it was not known if knowledge of financial literacy for students who participated in a prior financial literacy class in high school differed from students who had not. The purpose of this study was to obtain formative data regarding students' needs for financial literacy education and to examine whether the knowledge of financial literacy for college students who participated in a prior financial literacy class in high school differed from students who had not. Guided by Knowles' andragogy theory, this descriptive comparative quantitative study explored students' overall financial literacy, including financial literacy subcomponents, and the relationship between students who had participated in a prior financial literacy class compared to students who had not. SurveyMonkey was used to administer the Jump$tart CoalitionÂ® College Questionnaire to a convenience sample of 170 undergraduate students. Through descriptive data analysis (mean scores and composite scores) of the questionnaire responses, it was established that less than 70% of students were proficient in overall financial literacy. Independent samples t tests established no significant differences in financial literacy for students who participated in a prior financial literacy class compared to students who had not. The resulting project provides professional development for faculty to implement the Jump$tart CoalitionÂ® curriculum promoting social change by developing financially competent adults, thereby contributing to fiscally sound economies.